Inflatable pipe test probe

ABSTRACT

A probe ( 10 ) may be used to test or patch pipes where an operator ( 11 ) manually feeds the probe ( 10 ) along a pipe ( 12 ) by reason of an air tube ( 13 ) and CCTV cable ( 14 ). The operator may view via screen ( 16 ) the output from camera head ( 15 ) on the probe ( 10 ). The camera views the interior of a pipe in the direction of feed. The probe ( 10 ) has an elongate flexible body ( 16 ) so that it may deform to pass around corners in the pipe and be inflated to seal or apply patches.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to an inflatable pipe test probe suitable forhydrostatic testing of pipes for leaks and simultaneous interiorexamination of the pipe using a camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one broad aspect the present invention comprises a flexible probe forsealing a pipe or applying a patch, the probe comprising an inflatablebladder and camera assembled in series at a distal end of a cable andhose, the cable and hose being used to feed the probe down a pipe in afeed direction and retract the probe in the opposite direction, theinflatable bladder comprising an elongate annular bladder surroundingthe cable with the camera at the head, the camera providing an advanceview in the feed direction, the probe being flexible and able to passdown a pipe and deform to pass around corners in the pipe while carryinga tubular patch and upon inflation seal or patch the pipe. Theinflatable bladder preferably comprises a cylindrical elastic bladdersealed airtight at opposite ends and being biassed to expand medially.The inflatable bladder preferably has spaced sealing ribs distributedalong its length. Different bladders are designed to suit different pipesizes and to increase the life of the bladder is in use inflated to apredetermined pressure and size at that pressure. Thus it is preferablethat a bladder is designed to suit a particular pipe size and in use isinflated to a predetermined pressure and size at that pressure so thatits operation within the pipe is predictable and to specification.

In a preferred aspect the present invention resides in a pipe test probecomprising an inflatable seal and camera assembled in series at a distalend of a cable and hose used to feed the probe down a pipe in a feeddirection and retract the probe in the opposite direction, theinflatable seal comprising an elongate annular bladder surrounding thecable with the camera at the head and providing an advance view in thefeed direction, the probe being flexible and able to pass down a pipeand deform to pass around corners in the pipe and upon inflation to sealthe pipe for static test purposes.

Typically the inflatable seal comprises a cylindrical elastic bladdersealed airtight at opposite ends and being biassed to expand medially byreason of medially thinned wall section or sections. Preferably the wallhas protruding sealing ribs distributed along its length. The sealingribs are preferably evenly spaced.

Preferably the bladder is designed to suit different pipe sizes and toincrease the life of the bladder is in use inflated to a predeterminedpressure and size at that pressure. In one form suited to a 100 mm pipe,the bladder has a 40 mm outside diameter in its relaxed state and isinflatable to 114 mm at a maximum pressure of between 10 psi to 15 psi.In the case of 150 mm pipe, the outside diameter would be 60 mmtypically and 164 mm outside diameter when inflated to the 10 psi to 15psi pressure. Any suitable elastic material may be used, particularlythose materials suitable to repeated inflation and deflation in ahydrostatic pipe testing environment.

In another aspect there is provided a probe for remote patching ofdamaged pipes, the probe comprising an inflatable patch applicator andcamera assembled in series at a distal end of a cable and hose used tofeed the probe down a pipe in a feed direction and retract the probe inthe opposite direction, the inflatable patch applicator comprising anelongate annular bladder surrounding the cable with the camera at thehead, the camera providing an advance view in the feed direction, atubular open ended adhesive patch surrounding the bladder and uponinflation of the bladder in situ to a predetermined pressure the bladderapplies the patch and bulges out the open ends of the patch to dress theends of the patch.

In another aspect there is provided a system for in situ remote patchingof pipes, the system comprising an adhesive applicator jig for onsiteapplication of adhesive to a tubular patch mounted on a flexibleinflatable patch applicator probe located at the distal end of aflexible feed cable, the jig comprising a hollow former sandwichedbetween the probe and patch to stabilise same while the adhesive isbeing applied and then being slidably removable before the patch andprobe are fed into a pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood andput into practical effect, reference will now be made to theaccompanying drawings which illustrate one preferred embodiment of theinvention as suited to 100 mm pipe testing.

FIG. 1 a schematic drawing illustrating the probe being used;

FIG. 2 is a part cut away view illustrating the probe in position in apipe prior to inflation; and

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the probe in position, inflated andsealing the pipe.

FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a jig for loading a probe with a resinsaturated patch;

FIGS. and 5 and 6 demonstrate the process by which the patch is loadedonto an inflatable probe; and

FIGS. 7 to 10 illustrate the use of the probe to apply the patch, thebroken pipe break having being located either using the video camera orusing the static test procedure.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, there is illustrateda test probe 10 according to the invention where an operator 11 manuallyfeeds the probe 10 along a pipe 12 by reason of an air tube 13 and CCTVcable 14. The operator may view the output from camera head 15 on theprobe 10 via video monitor 16. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the probe 10has a elongate flexible body 16 so that it may deform to pass aroundcorners in the pipe 12 as typically illustrated at 17. This constructionof the probe will be described in greater detail in relation to thedrawings.

In order to test the pipe 12, the probe 10 is positioned at a desiredposition in the pipe 12 and inflated to perform a static test by backfilling the pipe 12 from the probe and progressively testing for leakageby stepwise inflation and deflation of the probe 10 as it is withdrawnusing normal hydrostatic test procedures.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the probe 10 is illustrated in greaterdetail and like numerals have been used to illustrate like features. Theprobe 10 comprises the camera head 15 and elongate body 16 whichcomprises in this case an elastic bladder 18 designed for testing 100 mmpipe. The size will vary for different pipe sizes. The bladder 18 hasthickened marginal edge portions 19 and 20 at opposite ends so that wheninflated it preferentially expands medially as shown in FIG. 3. Atopposite ends of the bladder, stainless steel rigid couplings 21 and 22rigidly secure the fittings for the camera head 15 and the cable 14 andair tube 13 to the bladder 18 by clamping rings 22 and 23 respectively.The bladder has sealing ridges 24 distributed evenly along its length.

In the illustrated embodiment the bladder 18 has an uninflated outsidediameter of 40 mm and may be expanded to a designed external diameter of114 mm at 10 psi to 15 psi inflation pressure. This would effectivelyseal the 100 mm pipe in use.

Once a break has been located, a probe of the present type may beutilised to apply a patch to the break referring to FIGS. 5 to 10 thisaspect will be described. A resin saturated cylindrical patch is appliedto the interior of a pipe using the expandable bladder to force thepatch onto the interior wall of the pipe to affect the patch. Thepresent illustrated embodiment a probe 550 mm long is utilised, thecamera being used to view the break and then the probe being moved anadditional 350 mm from the head of the camera to centre the patch on thebreak.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a process whereby resin may be applied tothe patch. The patch may be of any suitable type utilised and commonlyapplied to the lining pipes cut to appropriate length and the resinbeing applied on site, any suitable resin for plumbing applications maybe used, typically two part apoxy/polyamines suited to a plumbingenvironment may be utilised and for under water application. It ispreferable that it be low viscosity and there be a relatively shortcuring time, typically touch dry in two hours at 25° C. and hard at 12hours at 25° C. The base is typically an epoxy resin liquid polymer baseat 40-70%, the cure being Aminated Oligomer 20-50%. A suitable productis available from NMP, Unit 1910 Miltiadis St, Acacia Ridge, QldAustralia (www.nmp-pty.com.au). As can be seem from FIG. 4 the jig 25includes a drum section 26, a hanger 27, a clamp 28, a former tube 29and a release pin 30. The release pin 30 enables the former tube 29 todrop into the drum, the former tube 29 is sized to enable a probe 31 tobe positioned in the former tube with the patch material fastened to theprobe by a rubber band 33 positioned just above the upper edge of theformer tube 29 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The resin mix is applied to thepatch material while it is on the former to saturate the patch and afterthe former is dropped into the drum 26 the rubber bands 34 and 35 arepositioned as illustrated in FIG. 6. It will be. appreciated that thepatch tube material 32 includes an internal polyurethane lining so thatthe resin does not come into contact with the probe. A suitable patchmaterial is Brawoliner available from RS TECHNIK AG werkstrasse 9 CH8627 Gruningen (www.rstechnik.com) As a matter of process a releaseagent of any suitable type may be sprayed onto the probe before theresin is applied. Once the resin mix is applied and just prior to entryinto the pipe to be repaired each of the rubber bands 33, 34, and 35 arecut part way through so that the rubber bands will break as the probeexpands to force the patch material into engagement with the pipe.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the application of the patch, thebreaking of the rubber bands and the removal of the probe with the patchin place.

In the present case, the probe length is selected to suit the pipe sizeand length of break. The probe expands the same way as the test probebut the applied pressure and the configuration is different. The probeis medially thin so that it expands centrally and in the illustratedembodiment, the applicant drives the probe to 20 psi and this has theeffect of initially driving the patch in its medial region into contactwith the pipe and then as the probe further expands it will fill theentire pipe and will bulge at each end as illustrated in FIG. 9. thisannular bulging is to dress the edge of the patch to provide a smalltaper by reason of the probe bulging in the longitudinal directionbeyond the opposite ends of the patch.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of thepresent invention, many variations and modifications thereto will beapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broadambit and scope of the invention as herein set out in the appendedclaims.

1. A flexible probe for sealing a pipe or applying a patch, the probecomprising an inflatable bladder and camera assembled in series at adistal end of a cable and hose, the cable and hose being used to feedthe probe down a pipe in a feed direction and retract the probe in theopposite direction, the inflatable bladder comprising an elongateannular bladder surrounding the cable with the camera at the head, thecamera providing an advance view in the feed direction, the probe beingflexible and able to pass down a pipe and deform to pass around cornersin the pipe while carrying a tubular patch and upon inflation seal orpatch the pipe.
 2. A probe according to claim 1 wherein the inflatablebladder comprises a cylindrical elastic bladder sealed airtight atopposite ends and being biassed to expand medially.
 3. A probe accordingto claim 1 wherein the inflatable bladder has spaced sealing ribsdistributed along its length.
 4. A probe according to claim 1 whereinthe bladder is designed to suit a particular pipe size and in use isinflated to a predetermined pressure and size at that pressure.
 5. Aprobe according to claim 1 wherein the inflatable bladder comprises acylindrical elastic bladder sealed airtight at opposite ends and beingbiassed to expand medially, the inflatable bladder having spaced sealingribs distributed along its length.
 6. A probe according to claim 1wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a cylindrical elastic bladdersealed airtight at opposite ends and being biassed to expand medially,the bladder being designed to suit a particular pipe size and in use isinflated to a predetermined pressure and size at that pressure.
 7. Aprobe according to claim 1 wherein the inflatable bladder has spacedsealing ribs distributed along its length, the bladder being designed tosuit a particular pipe size and in use is inflated to a predeterminedpressure and size at that pressure.
 8. A pipe test probe comprising aninflatable seal and camera assembled in series at a distal end of acable and hose used to feed the probe down a pipe in a feed directionand retract the probe in the opposite direction, the inflatable sealcomprising an elongate annular bladder surrounding the cable with thecamera at the head and providing an advance view in the feed direction,the probe being flexible and able to pass down a pipe and deform to passaround corners in the pipe and upon inflation to seal the pipe forstatic test purposes.
 9. A probe according to claim 8 wherein theinflatable bladder comprises a cylindrical elastic bladder sealedairtight at opposite ends and being biassed to expand medially.
 10. Aprobe according to claim 8 wherein the inflatable bladder has spacedsealing ribs distributed along its length.
 11. A probe according toclaim 8 wherein the bladder is designed to suit a particular pipe sizeand in use is inflated to a predetermined pressure and size at thatpressure.
 12. A probe according to claim 8 wherein the inflatablebladder comprises a cylindrical elastic bladder sealed airtight atopposite ends and being biassed to expand medially, the inflatablebladder having spaced sealing ribs distributed along its length.
 13. Aprobe according to claim 8 wherein the inflatable bladder comprises acylindrical elastic bladder sealed airtight at opposite ends and beingbiassed to expand medially, the bladder being designed to suit aparticular pipe size and in use is inflated to a predetermined pressureand size at that pressure.
 14. A probe according to claim 8 wherein theinflatable bladder has spaced sealing ribs distributed along its length,the bladder being designed to suit a particular pipe size and in use isinflated to a predetermined pressure and size at that pressure.
 15. Apatch applicator probe for remote patching of damaged pipes, the probecomprising an inflatable patch applicator and camera assembled in seriesat a distal end of a cable and hose used to feed the probe down a pipein a feed direction and retract the probe in the opposite direction, theinflatable patch applicator comprising an elongate annular bladdersurrounding the cable with the camera at the head, the camera providingan advance view in the feed direction, a tubular open ended adhesivepatch surrounding the bladder and upon inflation of the bladder in situto a predetermined pressure the bladder applies the patch and bulges outthe open ends of the patch to dress the ends of the patch.
 16. A probeaccording to claim 15 wherein the inflatable bladder comprises acylindrical elastic bladder sealed airtight at opposite ends and beingbiassed to expand medially.
 17. A probe according to claim 15 whereinthe inflatable bladder has spaced sealing ribs distributed along itslength.
 18. A probe according to claim 15 wherein the bladder isdesigned to suit a particular pipe size and in use is inflated to apredetermined pressure and size at that pressure.
 19. A probe accordingto claim 15 wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a cylindricalelastic bladder sealed airtight at opposite ends and being biassed toexpand medially, the inflatable bladder having spaced sealing ribsdistributed along its length.
 20. A probe according to claim 15 whereinthe inflatable bladder comprises a cylindrical elastic bladder sealedairtight at opposite ends and being biassed to expand medially, thebladder being designed to suit a particular pipe size and in use isinflated to a predetermined pressure and size at that pressure.
 21. Aprobe according to claim 15 wherein the inflatable bladder has spacedsealing ribs distributed along its length, the bladder being designed tosuit a particular pipe size and in use is inflated to a predeterminedpressure and size at that pressure.
 22. A system for in situ remotepatching of pipes, the system comprising a flexible inflatable patchapplicator probe and an adhesive applicator jig for onsite applicationof adhesive to the probe, the probe having a inflatable bladder andcamera located at the distal end of a flexible feed cable, the jigcomprising a hollow former sandwiched between the probe and patch tostabilise same while the adhesive is being applied and then beingslidably removable before the patch and probe are fed into a pipe.
 23. Asystem according to claim 22 wherein the inflatable bladder comprises acylindrical elastic bladder sealed airtight at opposite ends and beingbiassed to expand medially.
 24. A system according to claim 22 whereinthe inflatable bladder has spaced sealing ribs distributed along itslength.
 25. A system according to claim 22 wherein the bladder isdesigned to suit a particular pipe size and in use is inflated to apredetermined pressure and size at that pressure.
 26. A system accordingto claim 22 wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a cylindricalelastic bladder sealed airtight at opposite ends and being biassed toexpand medially, the inflatable bladder having spaced sealing ribsdistributed along its length.
 27. A system according to claim 22 whereinthe inflatable bladder comprises a cylindrical elastic bladder sealedairtight at opposite ends and being biassed to expand medially, thebladder being designed to suit a particular pipe size and in use isinflated to a predetermined pressure and size at that pressure.
 28. Asystem according to claim 22 wherein the inflatable bladder has spacedsealing ribs distributed along its length, the bladder being designed tosuit a particular pipe size and in use is inflated to a predeterminedpressure and size at that pressure.